MEDICARE, FARM SUBSIDIES, PENSIONS AND MORE ARE IN THE BALANCE: WELCOME TO THE SECOND 100 DAYS

Bob Dole and Newt Gingrich didn't quite expect the table to be turned. Their prey had been the President, even though they spoke in statesmanlike tones at a press conference last week. "Come to the Capitol, sit down and visit with Republicans and see if we can't work this out," said Dole in an open invitation to Clinton. Such a summit would tackle the volatile subject of Medicare. Shouldn't the President start handling the crisis? Indeed, as Dole spoke, Gingrich pointed to a precipitous slope indicating Medicare insolvency by the year 2002. And then the questions began. Why, reporters asked, didn't...